Video - The Tale of Kaguya-hime

Once upon a time, in ancient Japan, there lived a kind old bamboo cutter named Taketori no Okina. One day, while he was cutting bamboo in the forest, he came across a mysterious glowing stalk. As he cut it open, he found a tiny, exquisite girl no bigger than his thumb. “What a miraculous sight!” exclaimed the old man. “This child must be a gift from the heavens.” He took the tiny girl home to his wife. “Oh, my dear,” said his wife, “she is beautiful. Let us raise her as our own.” They named her Kaguya-hime, which means “Princess of the Radiant Night.” As time passed, Kaguya-hime grew into a beautiful young woman, and every time Taketori no Okina cut down a bamboo stalk, he found gold inside. Soon, they became very wealthy. News of Kaguya-hime’s beauty spread far and wide, and many suitors came to ask for her hand in marriage. However, Kaguya-hime was reluctant to marry and gave impossible tasks to her suitors.